eScholar, the leading K-12 data warehousing company, has contributed definitions for over 750 data elements to the U.S. Department of Education’s comprehensive pK-12 Data Model project, making eScholar’s data elements the foundation for the national data model. The definitions originate from the eScholar Complete Data Warehouse™, currently used by four states and over 1,400 school districts nationwide. eScholar’s contribution of data element definitions, mapped to the Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF) and National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) standards, will enable teachers, principals, district administrators, state education agencies and the U.S. Department of Education (USED) to use standard data definitions at all levels of reporting and analysis. eScholar has also contributed the field-by-field best practices guidelines that it has developed and refined through its work serving educators since 1997.

As the leading innovator in K-12 longitudinal data systems, eScholar has created the most extensive data dictionary being used today and is the first contributor of detailed data definitions to this important project. The eScholar Complete Data Warehouse includes over 2,000 data elements. More eScholar elements will be added as development of the USED’s pK-12 Data Model progresses.

“The data elements we contributed were developed by eScholar to ensure our customers are working with data they and all of their partners understand,” said Shawn Bay, CEO. “Every one of these definitions is a fundamental component of the comprehensive pK-12 Data Model. Not only are we bringing additional clarity to the data model work for the U.S. Department of Education, at the same time, we are helping to drive expanded use of data standards that are already in broad use.” He added, “We want to address our customers’ desires to support data standards by making sure every one of the elements they use is part of the comprehensive pK-12 Data Model.”

Demand has never been higher for comprehensive, quality educational data to inform everyday decision-making and meet the reporting requirements set by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Data captured at the school and district level are collected by each state, which is ultimately charged with providing Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), Education Data Exchange Network (EDEN), and other data to USED, all in an effort to improve the quality of education. Common standards in educational data are essential to the collection and movement of educational data.

The comprehensive pK-12 Data Model will be used as a repository for descriptions and definitions of all data elements and their attributes used in the collection and reporting of information about school and student performance. This will allow users at the classroom, local, regional, state, and federal levels to understand both definitions and usage.